Paying for college shouldn’t feel like a maze. Keuka College helps you navigate the process, keep tuition within reach, and tap every dollar you’re eligible for.
Your first step is the FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Submitting it determines eligibility for grants (money you don’t repay), work-study, and low-interest federal student loans.
Here’s what’s new – and what to do – for the 2026–27 aid year.
1. Dates and Documents at a Glance
File early, double-check deadlines, and gather the right tax info before you start:
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As of Oct. 1, 2025, the 2026–27 FAFSA is open.
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If you applied during the U.S. Department of Education’s August–September public beta test, you’re all set – those were real submissions and schools receive them.
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The federal deadline is June 30, 2027. Some programs have earlier priority dates, and campus/state funds can run out – file as early as you can.
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You’ll use 2024 tax information. Have your 2024 return and W-2s handy.
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Keuka College’s FAFSA code is: 002744
2. Who Needs to Be Involved – And How to Invite Them
Make sure every required person has an account, gives consent, and completes only their section:
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A contributor is anyone who must supply information on your FAFSA: you, and – if required – a parent (for dependent students) and/or a spouse.
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Each contributor needs a StudentAid.gov account and must give consent for the U.S. Department of Education to pull tax data. Without consent, aid can’t be awarded.
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Having a Social Security number speeds identity verification, but it isn’t required for contributors – those without an SSN can create an account using alternative ID checks.
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Inside your FAFSA, invite contributors by email; they use the code to accept, complete only their section, and e-sign.
3. Your Aid Index: What Changed and Why It Matters
FAFSA now uses a single number to gauge need; lower numbers indicate greater eligibility for need-based aid:
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You’ll see a Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
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In plain language: the lower your SAI, the more need-based aid you may qualify for.
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The SAI can be negative (down to –$1,500) to reflect very high need, but total aid can’t exceed the school’s Cost of Attendance (COA).
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The former “sibling discount” is gone; having more than one student in college no longer lowers your index.
4. Assets You Can Skip on the Form
Don’t report the net worth of these family businesses if they meet the criteria:
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A family-owned small business with 100 or fewer full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees.
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A family farm you live on.
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A family-owned commercial fishing business (and related expenses).
5. Pell Grant Rules That Affect Your Award
Check these factors to understand whether Pell will be included in your aid package:
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The Pell Grant is federal aid you don’t repay.
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If your SAI is at or above twice the maximum Pell Grant, you won’t be Pell-eligible (with limited exceptions). For 2026–27, that threshold is $14,790.
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If non-federal grants/scholarships already cover your COA, Pell won’t be added on top. (COA includes tuition and fees plus estimated books, transportation, living costs, etc.)
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Income disregarded under the foreign earned income exclusion is added back for Pell calculations.
Your Next Steps
We strongly encourage every student to file the FAFSA – whether or not you expect federal financial aid – because it’s also the gateway to New York state aid, Keuka College scholarships, work-study opportunities, and more.
If your situation is complex – or you’d like a guide – contact Keuka College’s Financial Aid team. We’ll help you compare grants, scholarships, payment plans, work-study, and affordable loans so we can build a clear plan.
